Update: No way Trader Ed’s is opening this week

TROY — Owner Terry Frederick had promised he would re-open Trader Ed’s Nautical Pub & Restaurant on Friday or Saturday of this week after a weeks-long legal wrangle that resulted in its temporary closure. (Details here.)

Then this morning, a fire that apparently began in the basement of 630 Second Avenue filled the Lansingburgh business with heavy smoke and fire crews were called to battle the blaze that quickly spread.

In an on-air interview with YNN, Frederick said he stepped out of the building briefly, and when he came back saw an upstairs tenant who he asked, “Is that the alarm going off? You coudn’t even hear it,” a thoroughly confusing juxtaposition of comment. He did, however, vow to rebuild and re-open.

This is the second time the popular neighborhood tavern and restaurant has been closed because of fire and smoke damage. The first was in 2009 when neighboring Hot Dog Charlie’s caught fire and flames spread to Trader Ed’s. That business never re-opened, although there are other Hot Dog Charlie’s locations in the Capital Region.